Another ride today. This time we met in Auburn at the Denny's diner on Auburn Ravine Rd for breakfast, then up the remnants of old Highway 40 to Donner Summit just above Soda Springs. Currently I-80 rerouts and replaces Highway 40 over Donner Summit, but we rode over the old route of the Historic Highway 40, part of the Lincoln Highway system. The section from Donner Lake to the summit has been used for timed hill climbs in years past, and we rode down and back up that section while marveling at the rugged landscape and enjoying the clean cool air.
Back over the summit we went to the 'town' of Soda Springs where my brother gassed up and we all visited the facilities. Then we took the Soda Springs road south, hoping to arrive at Robinson flat and on back home via Foresthill. Many of the old forestry roads have been paved but not this one until you get to Robinson Flat. So, for nearly 30 miles we rode over dirt road with a few challenging sections. Realize it is hunting season, so the area is crawling with pickups filled with camo clad hunters looking for a place to set up camp. The road is well traveled and very dusty, strewn with rocks, a few very small water crossings, and one hellacious sand section. It's only a couple hundred feet long but deep and very soft. I got dirty in the process and managed to trap my left foot under the bike. You can't lift a 400 pound bike off yourself when you are under it. I managed to wiggle around and free my foot but needed help to pick up my bike.
I have been reading some stuff about taking trips on bikes and the list of articles that might come in handy 'just in case': tire levers, air pump, extra tubes, patch kit, etc., etc. I was thinking about this while riding over the rocky sections, hoping I wouldn't hit a big rock and get a pinched tube or bent rim. It all went pretty well but the thoughts did leave a mark in my 'judgement' concerning future trips. We were traveling 'bare' in this regard.
Lots of great scenery, and the air is very clean and fresh when not following too closely to another vehicle. A dust mask might be a good idea if going that way again.
Once we hit the paved road at Robinson Flat we sailed on down the mountain to Foresthill, where we stopped for a 'breather' and discussion. The rest of the ride home was nice but unremarkable. It was a good day.